Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-04-01
condemn any Land ID Virgins until is
ss.S i. Lr;It N the Virrinia line. Tb;s

where.
Mr. Meredith claimed that the CON-
papy owned the connecting line in
kentucky, which would only have 10
he extended q short distance to reach
the border OF this State, where il pro-
noses TO cross at the breaks.
Mr.. Rhea denied this, although he
knew the same party who had been
here engineering tho scheme through
the Legislature and contracting with
men TO assist him was then in thocham-
her posting Mr.. Meredith lreforring TO
Colonel johnson, one of the officers OF
the road, who was then on the floor,
but soon went QUIT. Mr.. Rhea
vns quite severe in his denunciation OF
this raid lobbying, and was glad TO be
able 10 say for himself and friends that
they had not used one dollar to prevent
the passage of the bill. They had
made fair and open fight.
Messrs. Lovenstein, Meredith, and
others opposed the amendment and it
was defeated.
The substitute was adopted rs re-
ported from the committee, ordered TO
its engrossment, and, the rules being
suspended, was Immediately put on its
passage.
CIRCUIT JUDGES PAY.
The hour of / o'clock having ar
rived, the bill amending the law in re-
lation to the pay and mileage OF circuit
Judges, which was the special order for
that hour, was taken up. The original
bill provided that the salaries OF circuit
judges should be increased from 81, 900
to $4,000, and in the Seventh and
Thirteenth circuits from $1,000 to
so, 700, and increased the mileage from
10 to 30 cents. When the subject was
last under consideration the bill was
amended so as to restore the salaries to
what they were in lS7S-S2, 900 and
81, 400. As thus amended the vote on
the engrossment of the bill resulted in
its rejection. 1t now came up on the
motion to reconsider the vote by which
the Senate refused TO engross the bill.
Mr.. Jones briefly advocated the re-
consideration of the vote and the pas
sage of the bill. He thought he had
previously said all that he could say in
favor of the increase, and he thought
the Senate would upon reflection change
its front and pass the bill.
The vote was reconsidered.
THE SUBJECT DISCUSSED.
Mr.. Gordon urged the passage OF the
bill, saying that no officers of the State
were SO poorly paid as the circuit
Judges. In order that the best talent
may be gotten on the bench and the
services Of faithful and efficient men be
secured, the salaries should be increased
to at least what it was before its reduc-
ton some years ago.
Mr.. Staples opposed the bill. The
Legislature was convened in extra ses-
sion to consider only certain general
measures, the most important of which
was the States depressed financial con-
dition. The gentlemen who were
elected to these positions knew when
they accepted them what compensation
they would receive, and to increase the
salaries would not in any way increase
the efficiency of the services rendered.
Mr.. Wickham held that to increase
the judges salaries and thus to relieve
the necessity of their having to resort
to other occupations and means Of pro-
viding for their families would increase
the efficiency OF the judges in that they
could give their entire time to matters
pertaining to the bench.
Mr.. Berry, with reluctance and hest
fancy, arose to oppose measure which
had been favorably reported upon by
the Committee for Courts of Justice.
He in a vigorous and argumentative
manner opposed the increase. speaking
of it as impolitic, unjust, and he would
go as far as to say unfair. The cry OF
the impoverished condition of the peo-
pie comes up from every portion OF the
State and utter ruin is staring them in
the face. He felt thoroughlyin sympa-
thy with all that had been said about the
unpaid judiciary, and would as much as
any one like to see their services more
literally rewarded, but this is not the
time for an increase in any expense.
The States finances are almost in peril
and the condition of her people is such
as to stagger the bravest and strongest.
While this was only an increase ofabout
$1,000 per annum, it was an imposition
upon the poverty. stricken, debt-ridden
tax-payers which should not be allowed
to be placed upon them. He believed
that some of these judges would not ask
for this increase, and, in the States
present condition, all Of them ought to
be too patriotic to make such demand
when the poor people who support the
government have SO much less than
they.
Mr.. Mccormick urged the passage
OF the bill. The majority of these
judges are men of gray hairs, who were
called to the service of the State in
1871, who spent their best years on the
bench, and now are compelled to stay
there or retire without client at their
back or a cause in court. This increase,
he maintained, would impose no bur
den on the taxpayers, but out of the
money in the Treasury, without any
increase of taxes, would pay these hard
worked servants of the State what Is
Justly due them.
Mr.. Williams considered this increase
as unnecessary and only a gratuity if
made, and such liberality the present
financial condition of the State and her
people would not justify. The salaries
which these judges now receive really
amount to as much as $500 more than
they did fifteen years ago, since you
can buy more for q, 800 now than you
could with 81, ZOO then. These officers
of the State are no more entitled to an
increase of salary than are the members
of the General Assembly and others
whose pay was reduced one third at the
same time, and he was strongly opposed
to any increase.
MB. EDNUNDs SPEAKS FOR THE FlIsrERs.
Mr.. Edmunds, in opposing the bill,
said:
Mr. President,-It Is an aphoTfsm old as
the hills that when acertain class OF people fall
| out honest men get their dues. This axiom
| comes 10 my mind when SEQ the wrangle go
! ing on among tho lawyers In reference TO this
| bill. lIaughterl II is q m0nstrous PROPOSE
ton 10 increase the salary OF any oiicer OF the
| Government In the present depressed condi-
| ton OF the country. | was glad 10 hear the
| able Senator from Clarke In his adyo-